It has been announced that the future of Sittingbourne’s historic steam railway is under threat from the proposed regeneration of the town centre. It the council’s area action plan goes ahead then you could see the century-old service discontinued unless it is included in the public consultation.
The railway first opened in 1905 and people are being urged to comment on the proposals via the council’s website before the deadline of the 20th June.
Tony James who is the general manager of the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway said that “The private consultants were at the exhibition but they couldn’t tell you very much. They seem to know nothing about the town.”
The light railway is said to be the largest tourist attraction in Swale and has had an estimated 700,000 visitors during the last 40 years since it opened to the public.
Ian Lewis who is the council’s project manager, said that “As part of the ongoing master planning process, Swale council and its consultants will be meeting with the organisation to understand their aspirations and its role within a regenerated Sittingbourne. We understand that the landowner is giving the light railway the opportunity to buy the land over which it runs.” But Mr James has said they could not afford to buy the land themselves.
What do you think?
Do you want the Railway to stay?
2 responses so far ↓
1 RyanAJarrett // May 29, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I think it would be a great shame to close the Light Railway. I went on it as a young boy and I now take my 2 year old son on it and he loves it.
If anything Swale Borough Council do not make enough of it. On my last visit it was obvious that they need extra funding. A council or lottery grant would help renew the facilities at the destination and breathe some life into the dilapidated museum, despite the staff’s best efforts.
Swale has few tourist attractions, and even fewer that has such a history. With the “station” now backing onto the new retail park it is much more visible to passers by. I think this is an opportunity for the council and a treasure for residents and tourists alike.
2 Wendy Kemsley // May 30, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Far too much of England’s heritage is going under the ‘bulldozer’ to make way for more concrete slabs and buildings. The railway should be taken into consideration in any Council plans and not pushed aside like so much rubble.
The whole area could do with more tourists visiting and spending their money and this is one sure way to keep them coming. ‘Save the Railway’.
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